HERE is an odd question. How can four Barry people run the TCS London Marathon in April with only two lining up in London?
Raising funds for the Marie Curie Hospice in Penarth will be Darran Moran, Antonino Zeraschi, Dawn Harries and Stacey Bruce. While Darran and Antonino have simply been pounding the pavements in training, Dawn and Stacey have had to do a little extra.
They have been plotting a 26.2 mile route through the streets of Barry so they can run a ‘Virtual London Marathon’.
Darran Moran said: “Dawn and Stacey will be setting off early to run the full 26.2 miles around the Barry area, finishing off at The Front Room for a well-deserved rest and, of course, breakfast. They will also be taking on the Edinburgh marathon in May, this time to fundraise for City Hospice.”
Meanwhile, in London Darran Moran and Antonino (Nino) Zeraschi will be joining 50,000 other runners and passing London landmarks such as the Cutty Sark, before summoning up a final sprint along the Mall.
Darran is an old hand, having run six marathons, including two previous London Marathons, each time raising funds for Marie Curie. He said: “Running these long distances definitely does not get any easier the more times you do it and although I have managed to raise over £14,000 in the last five years neither does the fundraising.
“I get amazing support with my fundraising from family, friends and Vale Runners but once you become an accomplished runner it’s a lot more difficult to ask. My fundraising for this event is going well and I have over £1,500 with a minimum of £2,500 to raise, so If anyone or any companies would like to help by donating a gift that I could raffle it would be very much appreciated by myself and of course Marie Curie.”
Darran continued: “For Nino, it will be his first marathon. He had a very late call to say that unfortunately, someone was injured and would he like a place. With Nino and his family also having experienced the Marie Curie hospice many years ago, he jumped at the opportunity to raise funds.”
Nino said: “I have previously run a few half marathons so this will be a massive challenge but the training is going well so far. The people who visit Marco’s cafe have been so very kind, due to everyone’s massive generosity and, of course, all of my friends and family I have already raised over £1,900. If you are down Barry Island and would like to sponsor me then please pop to the counter and scan the OR code.”
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- Barry rowers take on The Thames for charity
- Charitable trust helps out Penarth hospice
- Kiera takes on half marathon to celebrate her fight back from leukaemia
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